Surveying instrument



H. C. WATSON.

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT. nrrucmon FILED 0:0. 22. 1919.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET Z- UNITED STATES.

HUGH G. WATSON, 01 DENVER, COLORADO.

SURVEYING INSTRUMENT.

Application filed December 22, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IlUoH VVA'rsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surveying Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accom mnying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in surveying instruments, and more particularly of the character of athenrlolite, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved instrument of this general character wherein the magnetic hearing of an objective sighted, together with the vertical angle that the objective shows either above or below a horizontal plane can be determined at the same time and these two angles read while the objective is still in sight.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of-this general character which may be employed with coi'ivcnience when held in the hand, and which can also, when desired, be supported by a tripod or other support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which, whci'i not in use, can be folded or compacted to occupy a minimum of space, together with means whereby the magnetic needle is rendered inoperative when the instrument is folded or compacte An additional object of the invention is to provide an instrument of this general character wherein a properly graduated dial is supported for movement with a magnetic needle, and wherein means are provided by which the-magnetic declination of the needle is set off so that the dial will give the true bearing of the point or objective sighted when such true bearing is desired.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im proved surveying instrument whereby certainimportant advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter definitely claimed.

The novel features of m invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

Inerder that my invention may be the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. I 1920.

Serial No. 346,470.

better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

l igure 1 is a view in side elevation with a portion broken away, of an instrument constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, and in an adjustment to read an angle below the horizontal;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the connection between the magnetic needle and the dial, i

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation, of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in top plan and partly in longitudinal section ofthc instrument as herein embodied;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the instrument as herein disclosed, with the clinometer in working position, a second position of the clinometcr being indicated by dotted lines, the dial enacting with the metallic needle being in elevation, with a portion broken away, and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the fork carried by the rod 14..

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, A denotes a casing or housing of suitable configuration and dimensions and formed of aluminum, brass, bronze or other non-magnetic material. The top wall 1 of the casing or housing A is provided with a circular recess or pocket 2 closed by the glass plate 3. The glass plate 3 rests upon an annular shoulder 4 carried by and extending inwardly from the wall of the re- ('ess or pocket 2, and said glass plate 3 is maintained against displacement by the spring wire 5 or its equivalent.

6*denotes a bearing post extending within the tubular sleeve or support 7 therefor, and which sleeve is capable of movement longitudinalliy of the post 6 for a purpose to be hereina .ter more particularly referred to. The upper or outer end portion of the post 6 coacts with the bearing point 8, preferably of agate, and which bearing point is firmly attached to the lower portion of the hearing 9, preferably of agate, and on which the magnetic needle N revolves. The bearing 9 coacts with the axial center of a disk or dial D having its peripheral portions provided with the conventional degree graduations 10. v The disk or dial D moves with the needleNand coacting with the needle N and the disk or dial I) is an adjusting member iii whrrdiytho magnetic declination of'the needle N can be set oil' and the disk or dial 1) made to give the true bearing of the point or objective sighted when such bearing is desired.

The periphery of the disk or dial l) is provided with the degree graduations 12; The graduations 12 are arranged in reverse or negative position with respect to the grinluatiol'ls 10, so that said graduations 12 maybe properly read from a prism or mirror P to be hereinafter referred to.

Extending radially of the recess or pocket 1 of the casing or housing A is a rod 14 supported substantially midway its length for rocking movement, and the inner extremity of the rod 14 is provided with a fork 15 straddling the post 6 below the sleeve or support T. so that upon depression of the opposite end portion of the rod H the needle N and the disk or dial 1) are held against rotation by contact of the bearing 9 with the glass plate 3. The outer extremity of the rod 14 extends within a groove 16 within the wall of the recess or pocket 1, and is in operative engagement with the inner end portion of a rod 17 slidably disposed through a suitable opening in the portion of the easing or housing A adjacent the recess or pocket 1. lVhen the needle N and disk or dial D are in their working positions, the rod 17 extends beyond the upper or outer face of the casing or housing A a distance sutlicient to permit the depression of said rod 17 to efi'ect the requisite raising or eleration of the needle N and the disk or dial 1) when it is desired to maintain said needle and disk or dial inoperative. The side face of the casing or housing A adjacent the south side of the dish or dial 1.) is straight and flat, and said straight side or face 18 is at right angles to the radial plane occupied by the north index or pointer 19. The face 18 at a point diametrically opposed to the index or pointer 1.9 is provided with an opening 20, in which extends a tubular hearing 21 carried by the sight box 5. The bearing 21 is in swivel connection with the easing or housing A, whereby the box S may beirockedcr rotated about the bearing 21, as a pivot. The box S is hollow and preferably oblong with one end open and having mounted in its open or objective end in a conventional manner a lens L. Although not illustraterh it is to be understood that a combinationof lenses and their necessary and essential adjusting appliances may be provided in the; open or objective end portion of the box S.

The opposite end 22 of the box S is closed, and extending within said box S through the closed end 22 thereof is the properly positioned eye piece 23, having arranged therein the lenses 24 to facilitate the taking of the sight.

Suitably atlixed to the inner side wall of the box S is an inwardly directed bracket 25, serving its a support for the mirror or prism 26 which overlies the bore of the bean ing2l on an angle of 45. Through the instrumemality of the mirror or prism the graduations 12 of the disk or dial D can be readily read from the eye piece 23, and which reading is facilitated in view of the fact that the graduations 12 are in reverse or negative positions. It is also to be understood. that the peripherv T overlies the bore of the bearing 23, so that the graduations 12 carried thereby will be exposed through said bore.

B denotes a casing or housing of substan tially the same form and plan as the casing or housing A. p

The casing or housing Ii has one face straight and [la/t, so that when said flat face of the casing or housing I) rests upon the top of the sight box ti, said casing or housing A and sight box S are in perpeiulicular relation. The inner marginal portion of the straight face of the casing or housing B is hingedly connected, as at 27 with the inner niarginal portion of the top face of the sight box S, whereby the casing or housing B may be swung with respect to the top or open face of the casing or housing A to serve as a clo- 9 sure member therefor. When the casing or housing B is adjusted into closed position with respect to the casing or housing A a marginal portion of said casing or housing B depresses the rod 14, whereby the needle N and disk or dial D are automatically rendered inoperative when the casings or hous ings A and B are in folded or compacted relation.

28 is a rotary clinoineter provided around the peripheral portion of a face thereof, with the degree graduations 29, and also provided on its periphery with the degree graduations 31 arranged in reverse or negati veform with respect to the graduations 29. The graduations 29am read through a window 32 in a face of the casing or housing B, and which window is closed by the transparent member or glass plate 33.

The clinometer 28 is fixed at its axial center to a supporting shaft 34:. having its extremities rotatably engaged in the bearings 35 in the opposed races of the casing or housing B, and said bearings 35 are preferably of agate. The clinometer 28 has a marginal portion weighted, as at 36 whereby the requisite reading is obtained from the cli, nometer 28 either above or below the hori zontal. it

The straight or flat face of the casing or housing B at a point ,in radial alinement with the axial center of the clinometer 28 is provided with a Window 36 closed by a glass plate or transparent member 37, and which window 36 registers with a window 38 inthe top wall of the sight box S when the casing or housing B is in its extended position or in a position perpendicular to the sight box S. The window 38 is closed by the glass plate or transparent member 39.

Supported by the top wall of the sight box 5 and extending below the window 38 on an angle of substantially 45 is a mirror or prism ll), whereby the graduation 31 may be readily read from the eye piece 22 The mirrors or prisms 26 and 40 are in close proximity so that the magnetic bearing and vertical angle of the objective can be sighted at the same time, and which two angles can be read while the objective is still in sight. This can also be done when the instrument is being held in the hand, although if prei'errei'l the instrument may be mounted upon a tripod or other support, and for which reason the bottom face or wall of the casing or housing A is provided with a conventional attachment 4:1 for coaction with such tripod or support.

The outer side face of the sight box 5 is provided with a window 42 closed by the glass plate or transparent sheet 43, and which window is for the purpose of admitting light within the sight box 5, and which is also true of the window 32, hereinbefore rcl'crred to. The plate or sheet 33 and the plate or sheet 43 are each provided with a iiiic line or mark H, extending thereacross in such a way that by, reading the closest lme oi the graduations coacting therewith, the correct angle will be indicated.

The mirror or prism 40 is held in applied position through the medium of the bracket 45, properly engaged with the top wall of the sight box S of substantially the same character as the bracket 25 previously mentinned.

h cross hairs -16 are carried by the reticulc l7, and which reticule is positioned in the objective end of the sight box S. Allh nigh forming no part of my present invcntion, it is to be understood that the retieule 47 may be so constructed that the cross hairs 46 may be adjusted to the exact center I l the line of sight.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a surveying instrument constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and opervied. and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason i do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and lei-elation of the several parts herein Lnmvn in carrying out my invention in praciice except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

in an instrument of the class described, .1 casing, a compass rotatably mounted therea sight box embodying the usual sight jvr cs, a tubular connection between said ight box and said casing whereby said sight box is rotatably mounted with relation to casing, said compass embodying a dial ar 'angement adjacent said tubular connection, means within said sight box whereby iho indicia of said compass dial may be read, a casing pivotally connected to said sight box and adapted to be swung to raised and towered positions, a sight opening in said last named casing, a sight opening formed in said sight box adapted to coact with the sight opening of said last named opening when the casing is in raised position, a clinoineter mounted within said last named casing and embodying a dial and means arranged within said sight box whereby the indicia of the dial of said clinometer may be read.

1L l 11 an instrument of the class described. a horizontal casing having a compass mountcd therein, a sight box provided with a tubular bearing affording swivel connection with said casing, said sight box being providc'l with the usual sight lenses, means arranged Within said sight box adjacent said iu ulu r bearing whereby the indicia of said compass may be read, a second casing pivotl connected with said sight box and adaptml to be swung to horizontal and vertical positions, said second easing when in the horizontal position forming a closure for said first named casing and when in the vertical position disposed upon the upper sur- Face of said sight box, a sight opening l'ormed in said second casing, a sight opening formed in said sight box adapted to coact with the sight opening of said second casing when said second casing is in the vertical position, a clinometer mounted within said second casing and embodying a dial and means arranged within said sight box adjacent the sight opening thereof whereby the indicia of the dial of said clinometer may be read within the sight box.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HUGH C. WATSON. 

